Comedian Frank Skinner has unveiled the nameplate of a tram named after former England soccer striker Jeff Astle.

Comedian Frank Skinner has unveiled the nameplate of a tram named after former England soccer striker Jeff Astle.

Skinner, who became a close friend of Astle after inviting him to star in the TV series Fantasy Football League, unveiled the Midland Metro tram at a ceremony in Wednesbury, West Midlands, this week.

Astle, a West Bromwich Albion legend, emerged as the most popular choice when the people of Sandwell were asked to nominate a candidate to be immortalised on one of the network's trams. Skinner, a Baggies supporter, said: "I don't think there's much danger of Albion fans ever forgetting Jeff, even the ones who never saw him play.

"This is a unique way of paying tribute to the great man."

Astle, who played for England five times, is the first person to be honoured with a nameplate on the Wolverhampton-Birmingham tramway since it was opened in May 1999. The striker died at his home in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, aged 59 in January last year.